Wyoming 2025 Regular Session

Wyoming House Bill HB0192 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
2		-	BILL NO. HB0192
3		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
4		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
5		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	1	+	2025
	2	+	STATE OF WYOMING
	3	+	25LSO-0530
	4	+	ENGROSSED
	5	+	1HB0192
	6	+	HOUSE BILL NO. HB0192
	7	+	Public utilities-wildfire mitigation and liability limits.
	8	+	Sponsored by: Representative(s) Larson, JT, Campbell, E,
	9	+	Lawley, Thayer and Wylie and Senator(s)
	10	+	Barlow, Dockstader, Jones and Schuler
	11	+	A BILL
	12	+	for
	13	+	1 AN ACT relating to public utilities; requiring public
	14	+	2 utilities to prepare and submit wildfire mitigation plans;
	15	+	3 specifying procedures for the submission and review of
	16	+	4 wildfire mitigation plans; specifying how costs associated
	17	+	5 with wildfire mitigation plans may be recovered; specifying
	18	+	6 limits for liability and damages for public utilities
	19	+	7 related to wildfires; requiring rulemaking; specifying
	20	+	8 applicability; and providing for effective dates.
	21	+	9
	22	+	10
	23	+	11
	24	+	12. 37-3-401 through 37-3-405 are created to
	25	+	13 read:
	26	+	14
	27	+	15 ARTICLE 4 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	28	+	ENGROSSED
	29	+	2HB0192
	30	+	1 WILDFIRE MITIGATION
	31	+	2
	32	+	3
	33	+	4
	34	+	5 (a) As used in this article:
	35	+	6
	36	+	7 (i) "Economic loss" means pecuniary loss,
	37	+	8 including losses resulting from medical expenses, business
	38	+	9 interruption, loss of business, property damage loss,
	39	+	10 replacement services loss, loss due to death and burial
	40	+	11 costs to the extent recovery for the loss is allowed under
	41	+	12 the laws of Wyoming;
	42	+	13
	43	+	14 (ii) "Electric utility" means any person,
	44	+	15 including cooperative electric utilities that perform any
	45	+	16 of the functions specified in W.S. 37-1-101(a)(vi)(C), that
	46	+	17 is authorized to engage in business in Wyoming and that is
	47	+	18 primarily engaged in the generation, transmission or sale
	48	+	19 of electric energy. "Electric utility" shall not include
	49	+	20 any electric utility owned or operated by a city or town;
	50	+	21
	51	+	22 (iii) "Wildfire" means an unplanned, unwanted
	52	+	23 fire burning within Wyoming that may impact, damage or 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	53	+	ENGROSSED
	54	+	3HB0192
	55	+	1 cause harm to natural resources, agricultural resources,
	56	+	2 homes and property or that threatens lives and safety.
	57	+	3
	58	+	4
	59	+	5
	60	+	6
	61	+	7 Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit the
	62	+	8 commission's authority to regulate utilities or promulgate
	63	+	9 rules under other provisions of this title.
	64	+	10
	65	+	11
	66	+	12
	67	+	13
	68	+	14 (a) Each electric utility shall prepare a wildfire
	69	+	15 mitigation plan that shall include, at a minimum:
	70	+	16
	71	+	17 (i) A description of the electric utility's
	72	+	18 service territory and the areas within the service
	73	+	19 territory or rights-of-way that may be subject to a
	74	+	20 heightened risk of wildfire;
	75	+	21
	76	+	22 (ii) A description of the procedures, standards
	77	+	23 and schedules that the electric utility will use to inspect 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	78	+	ENGROSSED
	79	+	4HB0192
	80	+	1 and operate its transmission and distribution
	81	+	2 infrastructure, if any;
	82	+	3
	83	+	4 (iii) A description of the procedures and
	84	+	5 standards that the electric utility will use to perform
	85	+	6 vegetation management;
	86	+	7
	87	+	8 (iv) A description of proposed modifications,
	88	+	9 replacements and upgrades to facilities and preventative
	89	+	10 programs that the electric utility will implement to reduce
	90	+	11 the risk of its electric facilities initiating a wildfire;
	91	+	12
	92	+	13 (v) A description of how the electric utility's
	93	+	14 wildfire mitigation strategies and policies have changed in
	94	+	15 the immediately preceding five (5) years;
	95	+	16
	96	+	17 (vi) A description of how the electric utility
	97	+	18 will coordinate with other electric utilities regarding any
	98	+	19 shared facilities;
	99	+	20
	100	+	21 (vii) A description of procedures and
	101	+	22 considerations for de-energizing power lines and disabling
	102	+	23 reclosers to mitigate potential fires, including: 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	103	+	ENGROSSED
	104	+	5HB0192
6	105		1
7		-	AN ACT relating to public utilities; requiring public
8		-	utilities to prepare and submit wildfire mitigation plans;
9		-	specifying procedures for the submission and review of
10		-	wildfire mitigation plans; specifying how costs associated
11		-	with wildfire mitigation plans may be recovered; specifying
12		-	limits for liability and damages for public utilities
13		-	related to wildfires; requiring rulemaking; specifying
14		-	applicability; and providing for effective dates.
15		-	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
16		-	Section 1. 37-3-401 through 37-3-405 are created to
17		-	read:
18		-	ARTICLE 4
19		-	WILDFIRE MITIGATION
20		-	37-3-401. Definitions.
21		-	(a) As used in this article:
22		-	(i) "Economic loss" means pecuniary loss,
23		-	including losses resulting from medical expenses, business
24		-	interruption, loss of business, property damage loss,
25		-	replacement services loss, loss due to death and burial
26		-	costs to the extent recovery for the loss is allowed under
27		-	the laws of Wyoming;
28		-	(ii) "Electric utility" means any person,
29		-	including cooperative electric utilities that perform any
30		-	of the functions specified in W.S. 37-1-101(a)(vi)(C), that
31		-	is authorized to engage in business in Wyoming and that is
32		-	primarily engaged in the generation, transmission or sale
33		-	of electric energy. "Electric utility" shall not include
34		-	any electric utility owned or operated by a city or town; ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
35		-	BILL NO. HB0192
36		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
37		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
38		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	106	+	2 (A) The ability of the electric utility to
	107	+	3 reasonably access the proposed power line to be
	108	+	4 de-energized;
	109	+	5
	110	+	6 (B) Balancing the risk of wildfire with the
	111	+	7 need for the continued supply of electricity to a
	112	+	8 community;
	113	+	9
	114	+	10 (C) Any potential impact that de-energizing
	115	+	11 lines may have on the resilience of the remainder of the
	116	+	12 electric utility's transmission and distribution
	117	+	13 facilities, if any;
	118	+	14
	119	+	15 (D) The need to provide notice to customers
	120	+	16 and the public before or as soon as practicable after
	121	+	17 de-energization;
	122	+	18
	123	+	19 (E) Any need to communicate and coordinate
	124	+	20 with any other electric utilities that may be impacted by a
	125	+	21 de-energization and any plans to accomplish communications,
	126	+	22 including communications with transmission operators,
	127	+	23 reliability coordinators and cooperative member systems; 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	128	+	ENGROSSED
	129	+	6HB01921
	130	+	2 (F) Anticipated potential impacts to public
	131	+	3 safety.
	132	+	4
	133	+	5 (viii) A description of the procedures the
	134	+	6 electric utility intends to use to restore its electrical
	135	+	7 system in the event of a wildfire;
	136	+	8
	137	+	9 (ix) For electric utilities whose rates are
	138	+	10 regulated by the commission, a description of the estimated
	139	+	11 incremental costs and potential associated rate impacts for
	140	+	12 the implementation of the wildfire mitigation plan,
	141	+	13 including system improvements and upgrades;
	142	+	14
	143	+	15 (x) A description of community outreach and
	144	+	16 public awareness efforts before and during the wildfire
	145	+	17 season, particularly in areas impacted by wildfires or
	146	+	18 de-energizations;
	147	+	19
	148	+	20 (xi) A description of potential participation
	149	+	21 with emergency coordinators, if applicable;
	150	+	22 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	151	+	ENGROSSED
	152	+	7HB01921 (xii) Input from the Wyoming state forestry
	153	+	2 division of the office of state lands and investments, an
	154	+	3 association representing Wyoming rural firefighters and any
	155	+	4 other appropriate federal, state or local fire entity.
	156	+	5
	157	+	6
	158	+	7
	159	+	8
	160	+	9 (a) An electric utility shall apply to the commission
	161	+	10 for approval of a wildfire mitigation plan.
	162	+	11
	163	+	12 (b) Upon receiving an application for approval of a
	164	+	13 wildfire mitigation plan, the commission shall, not later
	165	+	14 than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt, unless
	166	+	15 the commission deems it is necessary to continue the
	167	+	16 implementation of the wildfire mitigation plan for a longer
	168	+	17 period of time and the commission has entered an order
	169	+	18 confirming the continuance and stating the facts making the
	170	+	19 continuance necessary, approve the plan if the plan is
	171	+	20 reasonable, in the public interest and appropriately
	172	+	21 balances the costs of implementing the plan with the risks
	173	+	22 of a potential wildfire. For electric utilities whose rates
	174	+	23 are regulated by the commission, approval of a wildfire 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	175	+	ENGROSSED
	176	+	8HB0192
	177	+	1 mitigation plan shall not automatically confer to the
	178	+	2 electric utility the right to recover the costs associated
	179	+	3 with the wildfire mitigation plan. An electric utility
	180	+	4 whose rates are regulated by the commission may seek, and
	181	+	5 the commission may authorize, cost recovery for the costs
	182	+	6 associated with implementing a wildfire mitigation plan.
	183	+	7
	184	+	8 (c) Each electric utility shall submit subsequent or
	185	+	9 updated plans to the commission not later than every fifth
	186	+	10 year after the electric utility last submitted a plan to
	187	+	11 the commission or as ordered by the commission. The
	188	+	12 commission shall review and approve subsequent plans in
	189	+	13 accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
	190	+	14
	191	+	15 (d) Not later than June 1 in the year following any
	192	+	16 year in which the commission approves a wildfire mitigation
	193	+	17 plan under this section, an electric utility shall file an
	194	+	18 annual report with the commission detailing the electric
	195	+	19 utility's compliance with the approved wildfire mitigation
	196	+	20 plan and shall request an order of the commission finding
	197	+	21 that the electric utility has substantially complied with
	198	+	22 the plan during the preceding year.
	199	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	200	+	ENGROSSED
	201	+	9HB01921
39	202		2
40		-	(iii) "Wildfire" means an unplanned, unwanted
41		-	fire burning within Wyoming that may impact, damage or
42		-	cause harm to natural resources, agricultural resources,
43		-	homes and property or that threatens lives and safety.
44		-	37-3-402. Wildfire mitigation plans; preemption;
45		-	commission authority; applicability.
46		-	(a) Nothing in this article shall be construed to
47		-	limit the commission's authority to regulate utilities or
48		-	promulgate rules under other provisions of this title.
49		-	(b) Wildfire mitigation plans approved by the
50		-	commission shall preempt any part of a local land use plan
51		-	or ordinance that would impede or preclude an electric
52		-	utility from implementing the wildfire mitigation plan.
53		-	37-3-403. Electric utilities; wildfire mitigation
54		-	plans; contents.
55		-	(a) Each electric utility shall prepare a wildfire
56		-	mitigation plan that shall include, at a minimum:
57		-	(i) A description of the electric utility's
58		-	service territory and the areas within the service
59		-	territory or rights-of-way that may be subject to a
60		-	heightened risk of wildfire;
61		-	(ii) A description of the procedures, standards
62		-	and schedules that the electric utility will use to inspect
63		-	and operate its transmission and distribution
64		-	infrastructure, if any; ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
65		-	BILL NO. HB0192
66		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
67		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
68		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
69		-	3(iii) A description of the procedures and
70		-	standards that the electric utility will use to perform
71		-	vegetation management;
72		-	(iv) A description of proposed modifications,
73		-	replacements and upgrades to facilities and preventative
74		-	programs that the electric utility will implement to reduce
75		-	the risk of its electric facilities initiating a wildfire;
76		-	(v) A description of how the electric utility's
77		-	wildfire mitigation strategies and policies have changed in
78		-	the immediately preceding five (5) years;
79		-	(vi) A description of how the electric utility
80		-	will coordinate with other electric utilities regarding any
81		-	shared facilities;
82		-	(vii) A description of procedures and
83		-	considerations for de-energizing power lines and disabling
84		-	reclosers to mitigate potential fires, including:
85		-	(A) The ability of the electric utility to
86		-	reasonably access the proposed power line to be
87		-	de-energized;
88		-	(B) Balancing the risk of wildfire with the
89		-	need for the continued supply of electricity to a
90		-	community;
91		-	(C) Any potential impact that de-energizing
92		-	lines may have on the resilience of the remainder of the
93		-	electric utility's transmission and distribution
94		-	facilities, if any; ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
95		-	BILL NO. HB0192
96		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
97		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
98		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
99		-	4 (D) The need to provide notice to customers
100		-	and the public before or as soon as practicable after
101		-	de-energization;
102		-	(E) Any need to communicate and coordinate
103		-	with any other electric utilities that may be impacted by a
104		-	de-energization and any plans to accomplish communications,
105		-	including communications with transmission operators,
106		-	reliability coordinators and cooperative member systems;
107		-	(F) Anticipated potential impacts to public
108		-	safety.
109		-	(viii) A description of the procedures the
110		-	electric utility intends to use to restore its electrical
111		-	system in the event of a wildfire;
112		-	(ix) For electric utilities whose rates are
113		-	regulated by the commission, a description of the estimated
114		-	incremental costs and potential associated rate impacts for
115		-	the implementation of the wildfire mitigation plan,
116		-	including system improvements and upgrades;
117		-	(x) A description of community outreach and
118		-	public awareness efforts before and during the wildfire
119		-	season, particularly in areas impacted by wildfires or
120		-	de-energizations;
121		-	(xi) A description of potential participation
122		-	with emergency coordinators, if applicable;
123		-	(xii) Input from the Wyoming state forestry
124		-	division of the office of state lands and investments, an
125		-	association representing Wyoming rural firefighters, ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
126		-	BILL NO. HB0192
127		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
128		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
129		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
	203	+	3
	204	+	4 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section,
	205	+	5 there shall be a presumption in any civil action that the
	206	+	6 approved wildfire mitigation plan is a reasonable and
	207	+	7 prudent preparation for, and mitigation of, wildfire risk.
	208	+	8
	209	+	9 (b) An electric utility and a landowner with an
	210	+	10 alleged wildfire related claim shall negotiate in good
	211	+	11 faith before any landowner files a civil action against the
	212	+	12 electric utility. During negotiations, an electric utility
	213	+	13 shall respond to a landowner not later than ninety (90)
	214	+	14 days after receipt of the landowner's submission of
	215	+	15 itemized damages.
	216	+	16
	217	+	17 (c) A plaintiff may recover economic loss from an
	218	+	18 electric utility as a result of a wildfire only if the
	219	+	19 plaintiff shows one (1) or more of the following by a
	220	+	20 preponderance of the evidence:
	221	+	21
	222	+	22 (i) The electric utility failed to substantially
	223	+	23 comply with an approved wildfire mitigation plan, and that 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	224	+	ENGROSSED
	225	+	10HB0192
	226	+	1 failure was the actual and proximate cause of the damages
	227	+	2 to the plaintiff. For purposes of this paragraph, an
	228	+	3 electric utility shall be deemed to have substantially
	229	+	4 complied with the wildfire mitigation plan if the electric
	230	+	5 utility attempted in good faith to comply with the plan but
	231	+	6 was denied or unreasonably delayed access to a right-of-way
	232	+	7 after the electric utility requested access to the
	233	+	8 right-of-way to perform vegetation management or fire
	234	+	9 mitigation work in accordance with the plan;
	235	+	10
	236	+	11 (ii) The electric utility acted with malice or
	237	+	12 criminal intent, and the electric utility's action was the
	238	+	13 actual and proximate cause of the damages to the plaintiff.
	239	+	14
	240	+	15 (d) The following shall apply in any civil action
	241	+	16 that any plaintiff brings against an electric utility for
	242	+	17 damages caused by wildfire:
	243	+	18
	244	+	19 (i) An action against an electric utility for
	245	+	20 damages caused by a wildfire shall be brought not later
	246	+	21 than four (4) years after the date of the ignition of the
	247	+	22 wildfire;
	248	+	23 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	249	+	ENGROSSED
	250	+	11HB01921 (ii) A plaintiff may recover economic losses;
	251	+	2
	252	+	3 (iii) No plaintiff shall recover noneconomic
	253	+	4 damages unless the plaintiff's claim is based on the injury
	254	+	5 or death of any person in a wildfire;
	255	+	6
	256	+	7 (iv) Nothing in this section shall be construed
	257	+	8 to limit any defenses that an electric utility may be
	258	+	9 entitled to raise in a civil action for damages caused by
	259	+	10 wildfire.
	260	+	11
	261	+	12Nothing in this act shall be construed to
	262	+	13 impair, alter or preempt any terms or agreements in
	263	+	14 original grants of easements made before July 1, 2025.
	264	+	15
	265	+	16The public service commission may
	266	+	17 promulgate any rules necessary to implement this act.
	267	+	18 2025STATE OF WYOMING25LSO-0530
	268	+	ENGROSSED
	269	+	12HB01921.
	270	+	2
	271	+	3 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this
	272	+	4 section, this act is effective July 1, 2025.
130	273		5
131		-	counties and any other appropriate federal, state or local
132		-	fire entity.
133		-	(b) Not later than five (5) business days after a
134		-	fire mitigation plan is submitted to the public service
135		-	commission for approval under W.S. 37-3-404(a), the
136		-	electric utility shall provide direct notice that a
137		-	wildfire mitigation plan has been filed with the public
138		-	service commission to all conservation districts,
139		-	municipalities and counties in the electric utility's
140		-	Wyoming service territories.
141		-	37-3-404. Wildfire mitigation plans; commission
142		-	approval.
143		-	(a) An electric utility shall apply to the commission
144		-	for approval of a wildfire mitigation plan.
145		-	(b) Upon receiving an application for approval of a
146		-	wildfire mitigation plan, the commission shall, not later
147		-	than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt, unless
148		-	the commission deems it is necessary to continue the
149		-	implementation of the wildfire mitigation plan for a longer
150		-	period of time and the commission has entered an order
151		-	confirming the continuance and stating the facts making the
152		-	continuance necessary, approve the plan if the plan is
153		-	reasonable, in the public interest and appropriately
154		-	balances the costs of implementing the plan with the risks
155		-	of a potential wildfire. For electric utilities whose rates
156		-	are regulated by the commission, approval of a wildfire
157		-	mitigation plan shall not automatically confer to the
158		-	electric utility the right to recover the costs associated
159		-	with the wildfire mitigation plan. An electric utility
160		-	whose rates are regulated by the commission may seek, and ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
161		-	BILL NO. HB0192
162		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
163		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
164		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
165		-	6
166		-	the commission may authorize, cost recovery for the costs
167		-	associated with implementing a wildfire mitigation plan.
168		-	(c) Each electric utility shall submit subsequent or
169		-	updated plans to the commission not later than every fifth
170		-	year after the electric utility last submitted a plan to
171		-	the commission or as ordered by the commission. The
172		-	commission shall review and approve subsequent plans in
173		-	accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
174		-	(d) Not later than June 1 in the year following any
175		-	year in which the commission approves a wildfire mitigation
176		-	plan under this section, an electric utility shall file an
177		-	annual report with the commission detailing the electric
178		-	utility's compliance with the approved wildfire mitigation
179		-	plan and shall request an order of the commission finding
180		-	that the electric utility has substantially complied with
181		-	the plan during the preceding year.
182		-	37-3-405. Wildfire mitigation plans; recovery of
183		-	costs.
184		-	(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section,
185		-	there shall be a presumption in any civil action that the
186		-	approved wildfire mitigation plan is a reasonable and
187		-	prudent preparation for, and mitigation of, wildfire risk.
188		-	(b) An electric utility and a landowner with an
189		-	alleged wildfire related claim shall negotiate in good
190		-	faith before any landowner files a civil action against the
191		-	electric utility. During negotiations, an electric utility
192		-	shall respond to a landowner not later than ninety (90)
193		-	days after receipt of the landowner's submission of
194		-	itemized damages. ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
195		-	BILL NO. HB0192
196		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
197		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
198		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
199		-	7(c) A plaintiff may recover economic loss from an
200		-	electric utility as a result of a wildfire only if the
201		-	plaintiff shows one (1) or more of the following by a
202		-	preponderance of the evidence:
203		-	(i) The electric utility failed to substantially
204		-	comply with an approved wildfire mitigation plan, and that
205		-	failure was the actual and proximate cause of the damages
206		-	to the plaintiff. For purposes of this paragraph, an
207		-	electric utility shall be deemed to have substantially
208		-	complied with the wildfire mitigation plan if the electric
209		-	utility attempted in good faith to comply with the plan but
210		-	was denied or unreasonably delayed access to a right-of-way
211		-	after the electric utility requested access to the
212		-	right-of-way to perform vegetation management or fire
213		-	mitigation work in accordance with the plan and the denial
214		-	or delay was a proximate cause of the damages to the
215		-	plaintiff. A denial or delay shall not be deemed a
216		-	proximate cause of the damages unless the electric utility
217		-	made reasonable efforts to enforce their easement access
218		-	rights within a reasonable time;
219		-	(ii) The electric utility acted with gross
220		-	negligence, malice or criminal intent, and the electric
221		-	utility's action was the actual and proximate cause of the
222		-	damages to the plaintiff.
223		-	(d) The following shall apply in any civil action
224		-	filed under subsection (c) of this section that any
225		-	plaintiff brings against an electric utility for damages
226		-	caused by wildfire:
227		-	(i) An action against an electric utility for
228		-	damages caused by a wildfire shall be brought not later ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
229		-	BILL NO. HB0192
230		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
231		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
232		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
233		-	8
234		-	than four (4) years after the date of the ignition of the
235		-	wildfire;
236		-	(ii) A plaintiff may recover economic losses;
237		-	(iii) No plaintiff shall recover noneconomic
238		-	damages unless the plaintiff's claim is based on the injury
239		-	or death of any person in a wildfire;
240		-	(iv) Nothing in this section shall be construed
241		-	to limit any defenses that an electric utility may be
242		-	entitled to raise in a civil action for damages caused by
243		-	wildfire.
244		-	(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to
245		-	apply to any action against an electric utility for:
246		-	(i) Any act or omission taken by the electric
247		-	utility that is not addressed or covered in the electric
248		-	utility's wildfire mitigation plan;
249		-	(ii) Any act or omission taken by the electric
250		-	utility that causes damages or losses not caused or created
251		-	by a wildfire.
252		-	Section 2. Nothing in this act shall be construed to
253		-	impair, alter or preempt any terms or agreements in grants
254		-	of easements or the terms in any other agreements between
255		-	electric utilities and third parties for the shared use of
256		-	facilities.
257		-	Section 3. The public service commission may
258		-	promulgate any rules necessary to implement this act. ORIGINAL HOUSE ENGROSSED
259		-	BILL NO. HB0192
260		-	ENROLLED ACT NO. 58, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
261		-	SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
262		-	2025 GENERAL SESSION
263		-	9Section 4.
264		-	(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this
265		-	section, this act is effective July 1, 2025.
266		-	(b) Sections 3 and 4 of this act are effective
267		-	immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a
268		-	bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of
269		-	the Wyoming Constitution.
270		-	(END)
271		-	Speaker of the HousePresident of the SenateGovernorTIME APPROVED: _________DATE APPROVED: _________
272		-	I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.
273		-	Chief Clerk
	274	+	6 (b) Sections 3 and 4 of this act are effective
	275	+	7 immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a
	276	+	8 bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of
	277	+	9 the Wyoming Constitution.
	278	+	10
	279	+	11 (END)